U-J3RK5

UJ3RK5 (sometimes written as U-J3RK5, and pronounced "you jerk" — the five is silent)[1] was a Vancouver-based band from the late 1970s.[2] Their style was post-punk/new wave,[3] but was more art rock than synth pop.[4]

U-J3RK5
OriginVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
GenresPost-punk, new wave
Years active1978–1981
LabelsZulu Records
Quintessence Records
Past membersJeff Wall
Rodney Graham
Ian Wallace
Kitty Byrne
Colin Griffiths
Danice McLeod
Frank Ramirez
David Wisdom

History

UJ3RK5 was formed by Vancouver visual artists Ian Wallace, Jeff Wall[5] and Rodney Graham in addition to Kitty Byrne, Colin Griffiths, Danice McLeod, Frank Ramirez and CBC Radio host David Wisdom. Their self-titled debut EP included "Eisenhower and the Hippies," a song inspired by a work of American conceptual art proponent Dan Graham.[6] The EP was originally released by the independent label Quintessence Records, with a second pressing on Polygram of Canada.

After a short time, the members disbanded, returning to concentrate on their art careers. However, their music continued to be played and recorded. The Oh Canaduh! compilation albums featured two covers of UJ3RK5. "Eisenhower and the Hippies" was covered by Man or Astro-man? and "Locator" by Servotron.[7] The songs "U-J3RK5 Work for Police" and "Naum Gabo" were included on the 1979 compilation album Vancouver Complication,[8] which was re-released in 2004 on CD with extra songs by Sudden Death Records,[9] and then in 2007 as a 2-LP set with even more extra songs by the Italian label Rockin' Bones.[10]

In December 2016, Primary Information (co-publishing with Emily Carr University Press) released Live from the Commodore Ballroom, a 2-LP set limited to 600 copies. It consists of a soundboard recording of their complete opening set for Gang of Four on May 26, 1980, includes seven previously unreleased songs as well as performances of the four songs from the EP and "Naum Gabo," and is now out of print.[11]

UJ3RK5 was featured in the 2010 documentary film Bloodied but Unbowed, directed by Susanne Tabata.[12][13]

References
  1. Sound and Fury – Reliving Vancouver’s punk explosion article on CBC Radio website.
  2. Sam Sutherland (1 October 2012). Perfect Youth: The Birth of Canadian Punk. ECW Press. pp. 43–. ISBN 978-1-77090-278-7.
  3. "Punk days captured on film". Burnaby Now, April 4, 2012.
  4. "Movie review: Punk scene gets its due in fast, furious doc". Winnipeg Free Press, By: Rob Williams all 11/18/2011
  5. "Bloodied but unbowed, a filmmaker captures when Vancouver music & art mattered". City Caucus, By Mike Klassen On April 9, 2010
  6. 0 TO 9, Number six (july 1969), p. 30
  7. Oh Canaduh! compilations on Lance Rock Records website.
  8. "Vancouver Complication". AllMusic. Review by Ned Raggett, 2004
  9. "Punk-Era Reissue Blasts Back From the Past". Georgia Strait, by Brian Lynch on January 27th, 2005
  10. Discogs, Various, Vancouver Complication
  11. Primary Information, "UJ3RK5: Live From The Commodore Ballroom"
  12. "Bloodied but Unbowed traces Vancouver's punk history". Georgia Strait, by Mike Usinger on May 5th, 2010
  13. "Vancouver Complication" Canuckistan Music, Michael Panontin
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